Patent Application Titled “Automobile Risk Assessment Using Average Velocity Differentials” Published Online (USPTO 20220148346): Patent Application

2022 MAY 26 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a patent application by the inventor Webster, Eric (Bloomington, IL, US), filed on January 21, 2022, was made available online on May 12, 2022.

No assignee for this patent application has been made.

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Generally, vehicles may travel at different velocities on the same section of a roadway. Although there may be a posted speed limit to which vehicle operators should adhere, other road conditions (e.g., road construction, weather, traffic, etc.) as well as the velocity of other vehicles on the same roadway in the vicinity of the vehicle may cause vehicle operators to regularly deviate from the posted speed limit. Therefore, current systems that assess the risk of a particular vehicle operator by comparing the velocity of the vehicle to the posted speed limit may have several drawbacks.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventor’s summary information for this patent application: “In contrast to conventional systems, the embodiments of the present disclosure are related to assessing vehicle operator risk by comparing the velocity of the vehicle to other proximate vehicles, taking other factors into account such as the current weather and road conditions. To do so, the present disclosure generally relates to measuring a particular vehicle’s velocity with reference to other vehicles to determine the vehicle’s relative speed. A vehicle’s relative speed may be calculated, for example, by collecting velocity data (e.g., in the form of collected telematics data) that is associated with other nearby vehicles, and determining a vehicle’s speed relative to these nearby vehicles driving at similar times, locations, and/or directions. Once calculated, a vehicle’s relative speed is used to assess the risk of that particular vehicle’s operator. Embodiments of example systems and methods are summarized below. The techniques summarized below may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for an automobile insurance risk assessment rating may be provided. The method may include one or more processors (1) receiving a first set of telematics data associated with a vehicle operated by an individual and indicating a velocity of the vehicle; (2) accessing a second set of telematics data associated with each of a plurality of other vehicles within a threshold distance of the vehicle, the second set of telematics data indicating a velocity of each of the plurality of other vehicles within a time period associated with when the first set of telematics data was generated; (3) averaging the velocity of each of the plurality of other vehicles to determine an average velocity; (4) calculating average velocity differential based upon a difference between the average velocity and the velocity of the vehicle; and/or (5) determining a rating based upon the average velocity differential. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“In another aspect, a remote server for an automobile insurance risk assessment rating may be provided. The remote server may include (1) a communication unit configured to receive a first set of telematics data associated with a vehicle operated by an individual and indicating a velocity of the vehicle; and (2) a processor unit configured to: (a) access a second set of telematics data associated with each of a plurality of other vehicles within a threshold distance of a location of the vehicle, the second set of telematics data indicating a velocity of each of the plurality of other vehicles within a time period associated with when the first set of telematics data was generated; (b) average the velocity of each of the plurality of other vehicles to determine an average velocity; © calculate an average velocity differential based upon a difference between the average velocity and the velocity of the vehicle; and/or (d) determine a rating based upon the average velocity differential. The remote server may include additional, less, or alternate functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein.

“In yet another aspect, a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium for an automobile insurance risk assessment rating may be provided. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium may include instructions executable by one or more processors that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to (1) receive a first set of telematics data associated with a vehicle operated by an individual and indicating a velocity of the vehicle; (2) access a second set of telematics data associated with each of a plurality of other vehicles within a threshold distance of a location of the vehicle, the second set of telematics data indicating a velocity of each of the plurality of other vehicles within a time period associated with when the first set of telematics data was generated; (3) average the velocity of each of the plurality of other vehicles to determine an average velocity; (4) calculate an average velocity differential based upon a difference between the average velocity and the velocity of the vehicle; and/or (5) determine a rating based upon the average velocity differential. The instructions may include or direct additional, less, or alternate functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein.

“Systems or computer-readable media storing executable instructions for implementing all or part of the systems and/or methods described herein may also be provided in some embodiments. Systems for implementing such methods may include one or more of the following: a special-purpose computing device, a mobile computing device, a personal electronic device, an on-board computer, one or more remote servers or a cloud computing system, one or more remote data storage entities, one or more sensors, one or more communication modules configured to communicate wirelessly via radio links, radio frequency links, wireless or digital communication channels, and/or one or more non-transitory, tangible program memories coupled to one or more processors of the special-purpose computing device, mobile computing device, personal electronic device, on-board computer, and/or one or more remote servers or cloud computing system. Such program memories may store instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, may cause a system described herein (or individual components of such a system) to implement part or all of one or more techniques described herein. Additional or alternative features described herein may be included in some embodiments.

“Advantages will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description of the preferred aspects which have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the present aspects may be capable of other and different aspects, and their details are capable of modification in various respects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

“The figures depict aspects of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternate aspects of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1.-20. (canceled)

“21. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving, by one or more processors, a first set of telematics data associated with a first vehicle being operated at a location and under a first driving condition, the first set of telematics data indicating a velocity of the first vehicle; accessing, by the one or more processors, a second set of telematics data associated with one or more second vehicles being operated within a threshold distance of the location of the first vehicle and under a second driving condition satisfying a predetermined criteria associated with the first driving condition; determining, by the one or more processors, a calculated velocity based on the second set of telematics data associated with the one or more second vehicles; calculating, by the one or more processors, a velocity differential based upon a difference between the calculated velocity and the velocity of the first vehicle; and determining, by the one or more processors, a rating associated with the first vehicle based upon the velocity differential.

“22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, further comprising recording, by the one or more processors, a timestamp representing a time and date associated with when the first set of telematics data was generated, wherein the second set of telematics data is collected within a time period associated with the timestamp.

“23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined criteria associated with the first driving condition comprising one or more criteria on at least one selected from a group of a roadway, a geofence, a type of roadway, a road condition, a weather condition, a direction, a time of day, and a time of week.

“24. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein: the second set of telematics data includes data indicative of one or more weather conditions experienced by the one or more second vehicles when the second set of telematics data was generated; and the determining a rating associated with the first vehicle further includes compensating for the one or more weather conditions.

“25. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the first set of telematics data includes global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data indicating a real-time geographic location of the first vehicle and the second set of telematics data includes GNSS data indicating a real-time location of each second vehicle of the one or more second vehicles; wherein the method further comprises determining, by the one or more processors, whether each second vehicle of the one or more second vehicles are within the threshold distance of the location of the first vehicle by comparing the real-time geographic location of the first vehicle to the real-time location of each second vehicle of the one or more second vehicles.

“26. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein: the second set of telematics data includes global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data indicating a geographic location of each second vehicle of the one or more second vehicles; and the determining a calculated velocity further includes determining the calculated velocity based at least in part on the GNSS data.

“27. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, further comprising: calculating, by the one or more processors, an insurance premium based upon the rating associated with the first vehicle; transmitting, by the one or more processors, the insurance premium to an electronic device for presentation to an individual associated with the first vehicle; and providing, via the electronic device, a set of recommendations to improve the rating associated with the first vehicle and to lower the insurance premium.

“28. A server, comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive a first set of telematics data associated with a first vehicle being operated at a location and under a first driving condition, the first set of telematics data indicating a velocity of the first vehicle; access a second set of telematics data associated with one or more second vehicles being operated within a threshold distance of the location of the first vehicle and under a second driving condition satisfying a predetermined criteria associated with the first driving condition; determine a calculated velocity based on the second set of telematics data associated with the one or more second vehicles; calculate a velocity differential based upon a difference between the calculated velocity and the velocity of the first vehicle; and determine a rating associated with the first vehicle based upon the velocity differential.

“29. The server of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to record a timestamp representing a time and date associated with when the first set of telematics data was generated, wherein the second set of telematics data is collected within a time period associated with the timestamp.

“30. The server of claim 28, wherein the predetermined criteria associated with the first driving condition comprising one or more criteria on at least one selected from a group of a roadway, a geofence, a type of roadway, a road condition, a weather condition, a direction, a time of day, and a time of week.

“31. The server of claim 28, wherein: the second set of telematics data includes data indicative of one or more weather conditions experienced by the one or more second vehicles when the second set of telematics data was generated; and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, that cause the one or more processors to determine the rating associated with the first vehicle further cause the one or more processors to determine the rating associated with the first vehicle by compensating for the one or more weather conditions.

“32. The server of claim 28, wherein: the first set of telematics data includes global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data indicating a real-time geographic location of the first vehicle and the second set of telematics data includes GNSS data indicating a real-time location of each second vehicle of the one or more second vehicles; and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to determine whether each second vehicle of the one or more second vehicles are within the threshold distance of the location of the first vehicle by comparing the real-time geographic location of the first vehicle to the real-time location of each second vehicle of the one or more second vehicles.

“33. The server of claim 28, wherein: the second set of telematics data includes global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data indicating a geographic location of each second vehicle of the one or more second vehicles; and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to determine the calculated velocity based at least in part on the GNSS data.

“34. The server of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: calculate an insurance premium based upon the rating associated with the first vehicle; transmit the insurance premium to an electronic device for presentation to an individual associated with the first vehicle; and provide a set of recommendations to improve the rating associated with the first vehicle and to lower the insurance premium.

“35. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive a first set of telematics data associated with a first vehicle being operated at a location and under a first driving condition, the first set of telematics data indicating a velocity of the first vehicle; access a second set of telematics data associated with one or more second vehicles being operated within a threshold distance of the location of the first vehicle and under a second driving condition satisfying a predetermined criteria associated with the first driving condition; determine a calculated velocity based on the second set of telematics data associated with the one or more second vehicles; calculate a velocity differential based upon a difference between the calculated velocity and the velocity of the first vehicle; and determine a rating associated with the first vehicle based upon the velocity differential.

“36. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 35, further including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to record a timestamp representing a time and date associated with when the first set of telematics data was generated, wherein the second set of telematics data is collected within a time period associated with the timestamp.

“37. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the predetermined criteria associated with the first driving condition comprising one or more criteria on at least one selected from a group of a roadway, a geofence, a type of roadway, a road condition, a weather condition, a direction, a time of day, and a time of week.

“38. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein: the second set of telematics data includes data indicative of one or more weather conditions experienced by the one or more second vehicles when the second set of telematics data was generated; and the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to determine the rating associated with the first vehicle by compensating for the one or more weather conditions.”

There are additional claims. Please visit full patent to read further.

For more information, see this patent application: Webster, Eric. Automobile Risk Assessment Using Average Velocity Differentials. Filed January 21, 2022 and posted May 12, 2022. Patent URL: https://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220220148346%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20220148346&RS=DN/20220148346

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